Neoregelia plant named ‘Mona Lisa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Neoregelia  plant named ‘Mona Lisa’, characterized by its upright and outwardly arching growth habit; leaves that are dark green in color with cream-colored stripes and dark-green margins; upper leaves, proximally, rosy red in color; and good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Botanical designation: Neoregelia carolinae×Neoregelia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MONA LISA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofNeoregelia plant, botanically known as Neoregeliacarolinae×Neoregelia×hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Mona Lisa’.

The new Neoregelia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Princeton, Fla. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new Neoregelia plants with uniquelycolored leaves.

The new Neoregelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in 2002 in Princeton, Fla. of an unnamed proprietary selectionof Neoregelia carolinae, not patented, as the female, or seed, parentwith Neoregelia×hybrida ‘Passion’, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Neoregelia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Princeton,Fla. in 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Neoregelia plant by offsets in acontrolled environment in Princeton, Fla. since 2003, has shown that theunique features of this new Neoregelia plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Neoregelia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Mona Lisa’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Mona Lisa’ as a new and distinct Neoregeliaplant:

-   -   1. Upright and outwardly arching growth habit.    -   2. Leaves that are dark green in color with cream-colored        stripes and dark-green margins; upper leaves, proximally, rosy        red in color.    -   3. Good interiorscape and landscape performance.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf coloration of plants of the new Neoregelia is more        stable than leaf coloration of plants of the female parent        selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and the female parent selection        differ in leaf color as plants of the female parent selection        have orange-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Neoregelia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent, ‘Passion’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia have shorter leaves than plants        of ‘Passion’.    -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Passion’ differ in leaf        color as plants of ‘Passion’ have green-colored leaves.

Plants of the new Neoregelia can be compared to plants of the Neoregelia‘Raphael’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,719. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Princeton, Fla., plants of the new Neoregeliaand ‘Raphael’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Neoregelia were more compact than plants of        ‘Raphael’.    -   2. Plants of the new Neoregelia and ‘Raphael’ differed in leaf        color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Neoregelia plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Neoregelia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a side perspective view ofa typical flowering plant of ‘Mona Lisa’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a top perspective view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Mona Lisa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe flowering plants grown during the spring and summerin 15-cm containers in a polypropylene-covered greenhouse in Princeton,Fla. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Neoregeliaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 28° C. to 30° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 22° C.and light levels averaged 3,200 foot-candles. Plants were 13 months oldwhen the photographs and description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Neoregelia carolinae×Neoregelia×hybrida    ‘Mona Lisa’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed proprietary selection of            Neoregelia carolinae, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Neoregelia×hybrida ‘Passion’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By offsets.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 30 to 40 days at            temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 45 to 55 days at            temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            months at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            months at temperatures about 18° C. to 22° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; yellow to            beige tan in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and outwardly arching growth            habit; rosette leaves are erect when young, becoming            outwardly arching with development; plants readily produce            uniform offsets; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 17.6 cm.        -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 62 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 4 mm.        -   Stem texture.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Stem color.—Close to 155B.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette, spiral phyllotaxis; simple; sessile,            clasping.        -   Shape.—Oblong with broad sheathing base.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Serrate, spinose.        -   Length.—About 36.5 cm.        -   Width, mid-section.—About 6.3 cm.        -   Width, base.—About 9.6 cm.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous;            leathery; longitudinally ribbed.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Glossy, shiny.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Lower leaves, upper surface: Centers, close to N137A;            margins, close to 160D; venation, close to N137A and 160D.            Lower leaves, lower surface: Centers, close to N137A to            N137B; margins, close to 160D; venation, close to N137A and            160D. Upper leaves, upper surface: Centers, close to N137A;            longitudinal stripes, close to 137C; margins, close to 160D;            venation, close to N137A and 160D; uppermost leaves, close            to 53A. Upper leaves, lower surface: Centers, close to            N137A; margins, close to 160D; venation, close to N137A and            160D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence form.—Terminal flat-topped compact corymb            located inside the leaf rosette; about 138 flowers develop            per inflorescence.        -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about eight to ten            weeks after planting; plants flower naturally during the            spring in Florida.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one to two            days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Inflorescence length.—About 5.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4.8 cm.        -   Flower size.—Length: About 5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Narrowly elongate. Color: Close to 94D.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Length: About 3.7 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening, upper            (inner) surface: Close to 93B to 93C. When opening, lower            (outer) surface: Close to 92C to 92D. Fully opened, upper            (inner) surface: Close to 93B, 93C and 93D; towards the            base, close to NN155D. Fully opened, lower (outer) surface:            Close to 92C; towards the base, close to NN155D.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: One. Shape: Elliptical.            Length: About 3.5 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Membraneous. Color, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 145D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Three in a single whorl. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Truncate. Margin:            Entire. Length: About 2.3 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, upper            and lower surfaces: Glossy, shiny. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146D; towards the base, close to 145D. Color, lower            surface: Close to 146C to 146D.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 7 mm. Diameter: About 1.4 cm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 155A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: Typically erect to outward and            curving upright. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to            155B.        -   Stamens.—Quantity per flower: Six. Filament length: About            1.7 cm; partially adnate to the petals. Filament color:            Close to NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length:            About 4 mm. Anther color: Close to 158C. Pollen amount:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 158C.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About            3.7 cm. Stigma shape: Oval, elongated. Stigma color: Close            to NN155B. Style length: About 1.5 cm. Style color: Close to            NN155D. Ovary color: Close to NN155D.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed production have            not been observed on plants of the new Neoregelia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 2° C. to about    37° C.-   Interior & garden performance: Plants of the new Neoregelia have    been observed to have good postproduction longevity under interior    conditions and to have good garden performance. Plants of the new    Neoregelia have been observed to tolerate summer rains.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance/resistance: Plants of the new Neoregelia    have been observed to be somewhat tolerant to root rot pathogens    such as Pythium and Phytophthora. Tolerance and resistance to pests    and other pathogens common to Neoregelia plants has not been    observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Neoregelia plant named ‘Mona Lisa’as illustrated and described.